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REACH for mental health in the COVID19 pandemic: an urgent call for public
health action

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REACH for mental health in the COVID19 pandemic: an urgent call for public
health action

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Credible Information.

This article comes from the EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTRAUMATOLOGY and is peer-reviewed. Since it was published in 2020, it is up to date.

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Editorial: Mental Health as a Public Health Issue

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Editorial: Mental Health as a Public Health Issue

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Credible Information.

This article comes from Public Health Reviews and is peer-reviewed. The authors are listed with a multitude of experience and degrees of expertise in the field.

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Credible Information.

The Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration has several branches that review information before publishing on their sites. They have experts in the field and cite resources such as research at the bottom of each page.

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What are Serious Mental Illnesses?

With early and consistent treatment, people with serious mental illnesses can manage their conditions, overcome challenges, and lead meaningful, productive lives.

Mental illnesses are disorders that affect a person's thinking, mood, and/or behavior -and they can range from mild to severe. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, nearly one-in-five adults live with a mental illness.

A mental illness that interferes with a person's life and ability to function is called a serious mental illness (SMI). With the right treatment, people with SMI can live productive and enjoyable lives.

There are many kinds of serious mental illnesses. Common ones include

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes intense shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. People have manic episodes in which they feel extremely happy or euphoric, and energized. Usually , they also have depressive episodes in which they feel deeply sad and have low energy.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders. Symptoms vary from person to person, but may include sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, pessimism, irritability, worthlessness, and fatigue. These symptoms interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy their life.

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that causes people to interpret reality abnormally. People may experience hallucinations, delusions, extremely disordered thinking and a reduced ability to function in their daily life.

Despite common misperceptions, having an SMI is not a choice, a weakness, or a character flaw. It is not something that just "passes" or can be "snapped out of" with willpower. The specific causes are unknown, but various factors can increase someone's risk for mental illness including, family history, brain chemistry, and significant life events such as experiencing a trauma or death of a loved one.

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With early and consistent treatment, people with serious mental illnesses can manage their conditions, overcome challenges, and lead meaningful, productive lives. Mental illnesses are disorders that affect a person's thinking, mood, and/or behavior -and they can range from mild to severe. According to the National Institute on Mental Health, nearly one-in-five adults live with a mental illness.

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Credible Information.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is a government agency that goes through multiple reviews before publication. They provide resources at the bottom of each page as well as mental health resources to national hot lines.

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Everyone experiences occasional stress; it is a normal part of life.

Long-term stress can lead to worsening health problems.

Managing stress daily can prevent you from developing long-term stress.

Find resources if you are struggling to cope with stress for extra support.

How it impacts everyday life

Everyone experiences stress, which is your body's physical and emotional response to new or challenging situations. This can occur when you face problems such as those related to work, school, health, and relationships. Feeling stress can be a normal coping response and can forge a healthy sense of our ability to solve problems. However, when the stress is long term, known as chronic stress, it can lead to worsening health problems.

Stress can cause the following:

Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration

Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests

Trouble concentrating and making decisions

Nightmares or problems sleeping

Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, or skin rashes

Worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions

Increased use of alcohol, drugs, and other substances

Healthy ways to cope with stress

Learning to cope in a healthy way can help reduce your stress. Taking small steps in your daily life to manage stress can have a big impact. Everyone manages stress differently. You can find and manage what triggers your stress and the right combination of healthy techniques that work for you.
Take care of your mind.

Take breaks from news and social media. It's good to be informed, but constant information about negative events can be upsetting.

Make time to unwind.

Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate.

Keep a journal.

Spend time outdoors either being active or relaxing.

Try to do some other relaxing activities you enjoy.

Practice gratitude daily. Remind yourself of specific things you are grateful for and write them down.

Connect with others.

Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

Connect with your community-based or faith-based organizations.

Take care of your body.

Get enough sleep. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day to help you sleep better. Adults need 7 or more hours per night.

Move more. Staying physically healthy can improve your emotional well-being. Every little bit of physical activity helps.

Start small and build up to 2 ½ hours a week.

Break it into smaller amounts such as 20 to 30 minutes a day.

Eat healthy. Have fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat or no-fat dairy. Limit foods with unhealthy fats, salt, and added sugars. See Healthy Eating Tips.

Limit alcohol intake. Choose not to drink, or drink in moderation on days you drink alcohol. Moderation means:

Avoid smoking, vaping, and the use of other tobacco products. People can and do quit smoking for good.

Continue with regular health appointments, tests, screenings, and vaccinations.

Resources and support

Resources

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Chronic stress can impact everyday life and lead to worsening health problems.

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Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

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Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

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Credible Information.

This position paper comes from the National Association of the Deaf and references peer-reviewed research in their statements.

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Open Letter to the Mental Health Community and Allied Service Providers
The Board of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), staff and Mental Health Committee presents its Position Statement on Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

The purpose of this position statement is to acknowledge and emphasize the importance and need for direct communication, sensitivity to cultural affiliation, and sensitivity to the psychosocial impact of hearing loss in the delivery of mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse services to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, and deaf-blind in every state throughout the country.

The NAD recommends that individuals with hearing loss be referred to specially trained providers whenever and wherever possible and/or that appropriate support services, guided by consumer choice, be made available, such as sign language interpreters, captioned videotapes, telecommunication devices for the deaf, tele-mental health capability, and closed captioning.

In addition, the NAD encourages organizations to inform their membership about this position paper and incorporate the language used in this position statement wherever possible and appropriate in mental health policy statements on multicultural approaches to care, cross-cultural and cultural care, limited English speaking/signing procedures and guidelines, Olmstead planning, and other kinds of policies, procedures, and standards of care that exist in the mental health field and profession. The population of people with hearing loss should be included, alongside other ethnic and cultural groups, in efforts to eliminate disparities in mental health care.

The NAD has specialized consultants available for referral to assist state and local departments, programs, and professionals with needs assessments and identifying and developing resources to serve this population across the country.
NAD Position Statement on Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
People who are deaf or hard of hearing ¹ are an underserved cultural and linguistic population within the nation's mental health system. Tragically, normal adjustment, cultural, language and communication issues are often mistaken for developmental delays, mental illness or mental retardation.

Since the mid-1950s, the NAD and the professional community of skilled and experienced providers in various fields serving this population have addressed and advocated for quality mental health services ² for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. As a result of these efforts, extensive theoretical, policy, and practice literature has developed, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and several landmark court cases on mental health and hearing loss, particularly supporting and promulgating appropriate care guidelines for services and the importance of consumer voice.

The NAD recognizes that, for the estimated 28 million individuals who have hearing loss in the United States, mental health services should be provided using cultural and linguistic affirmative approaches. Cultural and cross cultural providers in public and private mental health care service delivery systems are aware that a positive therapeutic process includes facilitating the acceptance of hearing loss as an integral and potentially valued part of the individual and understanding and respecting communication choice and family needs, both nuclear and extended.

Public and private mental health services should be available in all states to serve this population and should be equal in quality and effectiveness to those provided to persons who are able to hear. These services should be provided by culturally and linguistically competent providers using appropriate support services.

The skills of culturally and linguistically competent providers, whether hearing, deaf or hard of hearing include:

Ability to communicate directly with deaf and hard of hearing individuals, frequently requiring fluency in American Sign Language, but may include other modes of signed or visual communication systems used by deaf and hard of hearing people; and

Appropriate use of services and adaptive technology as is best identified and utilized by the consumer and his/her family members, including qualified and certified interpreters, assistive listening devices and real-time captioning services, and;

Intensive and extensive awareness of the cultural and linguistic differences, and psychosocial impact associated with hearing loss.

The skills of cross-culturally trained providers include:

Appropriate use of services and adaptive technology as is best identified and utilized by the consumer and his/her family members, including qualified and certified interpreters, assistive listening devices, and real-time captioning services; and

Awareness of and sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic factors that impact the quality of the delivery of mental health services to this population.

The NAD further recommends that public and private providers work together to develop an array of appropriate and accessible cultural and cross-cultural services, based on the identified and assessed needs of this population in each state to ensure the provision of culturally and linguistically competent mental health services.
Recommended State Actions

Establish an advisory council to the State's department of mental health services including consumers with hearing loss and their family members;

Establish a position of State Coordinator in the department of mental health services to coordinate and provide technical assistance on appropriate service delivery solely for this population;

Assess need and establish a statewide and/or regional continuum of public and/or private cultural and cross-cultural mental health services and programs (including professional training) for adults, adolescents and children who are deaf and hard of hearing. This continuum of services shall be integrated and coordinated with the existing service delivery system. This continuum should include separate, specialized services and programs, where needed.

Report the efforts and results of building this continuum of cultural and cross-cultural services in the annual plan of care to the federal government through state mental health planning councils;

Recognize, acknowledge, and integrate the cultural, cross-cultural, and linguistic needs of this population in state mental health policy. The access needs of this population should be strongly considered and included in the creation and revision of strategic plans, the submission of block grant applications, and response to legislative mandates, such as Limited English Proficiency, Olmstead planning, and human rights. Culturally sensitive language should be included that directs attention and increases awareness of the need for direct communication and communication facilitation in service delivery for this population.

Encourage the involvement of consumers who are deaf and hard of hearing and their family members through public and private offices of consumer affairs and other consumer and family member community-based organizations in the state.

Develop a registry of public and privately employed practitioners with expertise working with people who are deaf or hard of hearing to be made available for referral upon consumer request.

Mandate referral to specialized providers, as appropriate, and coverage (by public, private, managed care, and self-insured health plans) for interpreting services for subscribers and family members who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Create and/or utilize existing tele-mental health network resources to improve statewide access to services and provide needed technical assistance and consultation.

Develop and provide professional training resources, such as classes, workshops, conferences and community events to improve the skills and knowledge of cultural and cross cultural professional providers who deliver services to this population. Coordinate these efforts with academic institutions that educate and train human service workers throughout the country.

This paper is predicated on existing legislation including the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal and state civil rights laws requiring state and local governments, and private providers to ensure access, effective communications and equal opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Produced by the NAD Mental Health Committee in coordination with State Directors of Mental Health and NAD staff.
Approved by the NAD Board of Directors, May 3, 2003.

¹ The term "deaf and hard of hearing" is to be interpreted as inclusive of all individuals with hearing loss including those who are late deafened and deaf-blind.

² The term "mental health services" is to be interpreted as inclusive of the identification, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with mental health care needs, including but not limited to mental illness, mental retardation, and substance abuse. The term include the delivery of mental health care services on an inpatient or outpatient care basis, by counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers or other mental health care professionals, and delivery in public and private mental health care systems.
References
Critchfield, A.B. (May, 2002). Cultural Diversity Series: Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Persons Who Are Deaf. National Technical Assistance Center for State Mental Health Planning (NTAC).

HHS Office of Minority Health and Resources for Cross Cultural Health Care (1999). Recommended Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health Care Services (Resources for Cross Cultural Health Care).

Janet DeVinney, Plaintiff and the United States of America, Plaintiff-Intervenor v. Maine Medical Center, Defendant - Consent Decree - Civil No. 97-276-P-C http://www.ada.gov/devin.htm.

Myers, R.R. (Ed.). (1995). Standards of care for the delivery of mental health services to deaf and hard of hearing people. Silver Spring: National Association of the Deaf.

Olmstead v. L.C. ex rel. Zimring, 527 U.S. 581 (1999).

Ries, Peter W. (1994). Prevalence and characteristics of persons with hearing trouble: United States, 1990-91. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Statistics, 10(188).

Tugg v. Towey, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami Division (1993). 21 IDELR 717. Individuals with Disabilities Education Law Report. 21(9), 717-723.

Willis, A.G., Ph.D.; Willis, G. B., Ph.D.; Male, A., M.A.; Henderson, M.H., M.P.A; and Manderscheid, R.W., Ph.D. (2001)Mental Illness and Disability in the U.S. Household Population. Mental Health 2000, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Mental Health Services.

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Open Letter to the Mental Health Community and Allied Service Providers The Board of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), staff and Mental Health Committee presents its Position Statement on Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

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American Heart Association: Season's Healings

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American Heart Association: Season's Healings

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Credible Information.

At the bottom of the site, they state, "*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines." They also provide a link that takes you to more information about their editorial process.

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Season’s Healing: 5 Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

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This time of year, nature’s crisp beauty invites us to unwind.

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Technical Report On Psychiatric Medications

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Technical Report On Psychiatric Medications

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Credible Information.

This technical report comes from the National Association Of State Mental Health Program Directors and the National Association of State Medicaid Directors. It is in 2001, so not the most up to date, but is still credible information to reference.

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Credible Information.

This white paper comes from the Healthy Minds Network. It was created from the College Mental Health Research Symposium at the University of Michigan and lists several refernces.

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7 Simple Ways to Fight Depression Naturally

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7 Simple Ways to Fight Depression Naturally

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Misinformation.

While the blogger means well, they have no expertise in the subject and do not reference any research done in the field. They list "tips" that are not actual treatment.

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7 Simple Things You Can Do to Fight Depression Naturally - Kailey Myers

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Fighting depression naturally is completely possible, and I’m going to show you how! Keep reading for these 7 simple tips.

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Disinformation.

This meme does not provide any mental health research or information. It's intent is to harm the viewer and is known as "Pro-Ana" content.

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mental health memes on Instagram: "I love this starter pack
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#mentalhealth #mentalhealthmemes #depressionmemes #depression #anxiety #anxietymemes #eatingdisordermemes #eatingdisorder #anorexia #anorexiamemes #ocd #ocdmemes #edmemes #ednos #ednosmemes #psychward #psychwardmemes #inpatient #inpatientmemes #psychunit #psychunitmemes #mentalillness #mentalillnessmemes #bulimia #bulimiamemes #bipolar #bipolarmemes #memes #meme"

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141 likes, 0 comments - mental.healthmemes on November 20, 2018: "I love this starter pack
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#mentalhealth #mentalhealthmemes #depressionmemes #depression #anxiety #anxietymemes #eatingdisordermemes #eatingdisorder #anorexia #anorexiamemes #ocd #ocdmemes #edmemes #ednos #ednosmemes #psychward #psychwardmemes #inpatient #inpatientmemes #psychunit #psychunitmemes #mentalillness #mentalillnessmemes #bulimia #bulimiamemes #bipolar #bipolarmemes #memes #meme". 

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Misinformation.

Martha Brook specializes in stationary and does not have expertise in mental health. The tips provided are not based on research.

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Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest.

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Misinformation.

This YouTuber does not provide any information or research on mental health. Rather, she focuses on meditation and movement, without backing it up with references.

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MY 5 "NON-NEGOTIABLE" MENTAL HEALTH TIPS! Anxiety & Depression Recovery